Uploaded February 2014 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Beginning the process of unstuffing my life.
There's a weird, cyclical artefact in this clip: sorry about that.
The RSA video I mentioned:
Why We've Had Enough of Stuff
youtube.com/watch?v=SUXqwMKmtfQ
And a good guy to go subscribe to:
TheSkepticalAtheist
youtube.com/user/TheSkepticalAtheist
I'm taking my time with this process, and there's a lot of shifting things around from one place to another going on. I'm sorting my stuff into impromptu categories and looking at each category and deciding enmasse whether or not it's a category of stuff I even want to have. That's been a handy trick. I've dumped a lot using that method, bypassing the need to sort through each item and make individual decision.
I'm no longer a tiler / handyman, so there were vast amounts of grotty work clothes that went in the bin. That was actually really satisfying, because it was almost a lifestyle that I was throwing out. I jettisoned an entire career in one plastic bag.
I've kept less than 50 DVD's, but they are all ones that I love and have fond memories of, like John Hughes' teen flicks that came out when I was also a teen. Some are old TV shows like Columbo, Fawlty Towers & Farscape, or live comedy shows (Billy Connoly) that are hard to find online. I look at what remains and it occurs to me that they are a finite set. They will not be added to.
Of course, the added shelf space gives me room to take books off the floor. It will be harder to dump books, but I think I'll manage a few. All in all it's a curious process. I watched a video earlier today by Slaxxxer and he'd cut off his dreads which he's had for most of his adult life, apparently. I'm feeling something of the same weight being lifted.
Do you know what I had an absolute shit load of? Receipts. Receipts for tobacco, receipts for bread and milk, receipts for things I don't remember ever owning, and some of over 8 years old. Also, scraps of paper I'd drawn plans for shelves on and the names of songs I'd heard on the radio; every letter I'd ever received from my van insurers; broken pens; pencil butts; unidentified pieces of plastic; empty boxes; empty envelopes; brochures for places I've never been. There was also about a dozen empty beer bottles and cans that I don't remember drinking: I don't drink in my room because that too sad for words, but you'd be surprised what makes it's way to the places you spend a lot of time.
Now, I'm making it sound like I was living in squalor. It wasn't quite like that. At least, that's how it feels and that's what I tell myself: I'm just really good at storage.
Maybe when I finish this process I'll look around and wonder where the fuck I found the space for so much junk? And why did it take me so long to realise it actually *was* junk?
Christ, my life needed a reboot!
Beginning the process of unstuffing my life.
There's a weird, cyclical artefact in this clip: sorry about that.
The RSA video I mentioned:
Why We've Had Enough of Stuff
youtube.com/watch?v=SUXqwMKmtfQ
And a good guy to go subscribe to:
TheSkepticalAtheist
youtube.com/user/TheSkepticalAtheist
I'm taking my time with this process, and there's a lot of shifting things around from one place to another going on. I'm sorting my stuff into impromptu categories and looking at each category and deciding enmasse whether or not it's a category of stuff I even want to have. That's been a handy trick. I've dumped a lot using that method, bypassing the need to sort through each item and make individual decision.
I'm no longer a tiler / handyman, so there were vast amounts of grotty work clothes that went in the bin. That was actually really satisfying, because it was almost a lifestyle that I was throwing out. I jettisoned an entire career in one plastic bag.
I've kept less than 50 DVD's, but they are all ones that I love and have fond memories of, like John Hughes' teen flicks that came out when I was also a teen. Some are old TV shows like Columbo, Fawlty Towers & Farscape, or live comedy shows (Billy Connoly) that are hard to find online. I look at what remains and it occurs to me that they are a finite set. They will not be added to.
Of course, the added shelf space gives me room to take books off the floor. It will be harder to dump books, but I think I'll manage a few. All in all it's a curious process. I watched a video earlier today by Slaxxxer and he'd cut off his dreads which he's had for most of his adult life, apparently. I'm feeling something of the same weight being lifted.
Do you know what I had an absolute shit load of? Receipts. Receipts for tobacco, receipts for bread and milk, receipts for things I don't remember ever owning, and some of over 8 years old. Also, scraps of paper I'd drawn plans for shelves on and the names of songs I'd heard on the radio; every letter I'd ever received from my van insurers; broken pens; pencil butts; unidentified pieces of plastic; empty boxes; empty envelopes; brochures for places I've never been. There was also about a dozen empty beer bottles and cans that I don't remember drinking: I don't drink in my room because that too sad for words, but you'd be surprised what makes it's way to the places you spend a lot of time.
Now, I'm making it sound like I was living in squalor. It wasn't quite like that. At least, that's how it feels and that's what I tell myself: I'm just really good at storage.
Maybe when I finish this process I'll look around and wonder where the fuck I found the space for so much junk? And why did it take me so long to realise it actually *was* junk?
Christ, my life needed a reboot!
